NATIONAL

President to visit Dehradun to inaugurate annexe of Ashiana, the presidential retreat:

President Pranab Mukherjee will visit Dehradun to inaugurate the Ashiana Annexe.

The Annexe of the Presidential Retreat Ashiana at Dehradun comprises 12 low cost dwelling units which have been constructed to accommodate officers and staff of Rashtrapati Bhavan during Presidential visits.

Chhattisgarh government has set a target of planting 8 crore saplings in the state this year. For this, a special campaign ‘Hariyar Chhattisgarh’ will be launched from July 20. Chief minister Raman Singh has appealed people in the state, to participate in large numbers in the plantation programmes.

Dr. Singh made this appeal today while addressing to the listeners during his monthly radio programme ‘Raman Ke Goth’ from All India Radio’s Raipur centre.

Chhattisgarh

Capital: Raipur

Chief Minister: Raman Singh

Governor: Balram Das Tandon

Haryana govt to reward farmers who grow crops other than water-guzzling ones:

The Haryana government is contemplating a policy to reward the farmers who grow crops other than water-guzzling ones like paddy. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that the move is aimed at water conservation.

He said while addressing a public meeting at Rakhi Garhi village in Hisar today. Chief Minister said that amounts ranging from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per acre will be given to the farmers implementing the policy.

The First edition of WINGS 2017 – “Sab Uden, Sab Juden”- Expanding Regional Connectivity was hosted in New Delhi by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The Plenary session was chaired by the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju and the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Shri Jayant Sinha was also present on this occasion.

Two-day Regional Conference on Good Governance and Replication of Best Practices in Governance begins in Nainital:

A 2-day Regional Conference on “Good Governance and Replication of Best Practices” will begin in Nainital,Uttarakhand.

Organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Government of India in collaboration with Government of Uttarakhand, the Conference will be inaugurated by Secretary, DARPG, Shri C. Viswanath.

The Conference is an effort to create a common platform to share experiences in the formulation and implementation of citizen centric governance, improved public service delivery through e-Governance, transparent, accountable and citizen-friendly effective administration.

Uttarakhand

Capital: Dehradun

Chief Minister: Trivendra Singh Rawat

Governor: Krishna Kant Paul

Kaziranga authorities using drones to monitor flood-affected animals:

With over 50 per cent of the Kaziranga National Park in Assam submerged by flood waters, the park authorities have flown in drones to ensure security of animals in the park, particularly the famed one-horned rhinoceros.

Delhi govt to start online RTI portal:

CM Arvind Kejriwal to launch the project, more than a year after it was supposed to take off.

Right to Information (RTI) applicants would be able to register their queries online on the Delhi government’s new portal, which will be launched by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

NSG organises first International Aviation Security seminar:

The Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (I/C) Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy attended the second day of the first International Aviation Security Seminar in Manesar.

National Security Guard (NSG) has organised the seminar, with the aim of bringing all major stakeholders under one roof and facilitate them sharing views/opinion, discussions, brain storming with the matters concerning Aviation Security.

Yogi Adityanath to launch ‘CM Helpline’:

In order to strengthen the public grievance Redressal system, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has ordered the setting up of a “CM Helpline” which will connect people to a call centre manned by 500 people.

The helpline will be directly supervised by the chief minister’s office, with Adityanath himself collecting feedback. The staff will receive calls, note down details of the complaints and forward the matter to the department and officers concerned.

INTERNATIONAL

South Sudan marks grim 6th independence anniversary:

South Sudan marked its sixth independence anniversary in muted fashion, with no official celebration as the world’s newest nation reels from a brutal and destructive ongoing civil war.

South Sudan

Currency: South Sudanese pound

Capital: Juba

BANKING & BUSINESS

EPFO adds one crore members since Jan 1:

More than one crore workers have come under the fold of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in its first ever enrolment campaign rolled out on January 1.

The EPFO enrolled 1.01 crore workers through its Employees’ Enrolment Campaign which ended on June 30.

India to join new Global Foreign Exchange Committee:

India will soon get a seat on the Global Foreign Exchange Committee (GFXC), a newly-constituted forum of central bankers and experts working towards promotion of a robust and transparent Forex market.

The committee has been set up under the guidance of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), an international financial organisation owned by 60 member central banks, representing countries from around the world.

Nepal SBI launches first paperless banking services:

Nepal SBI Bank, a subsidiary of the State Bank of India, launched its fully automatic digital banking services in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu.

This is for the first time the State Bank of India has expanded the paperless banking system outside India.

Digital banking provides various services including cash deposit, opening of new accounts, distribution of debit card, ATM and online banking information on touch of the screen.

Nepal

Prime minister: Pushpa Kamal Dahal

Currency: Nepalese rupee

Capital: Kathmandu

APPOINTMENTS

John Joseph to take charge as chief of GST intelligence agency:

A key intelligence agency tasked with checking evasion of Goods and Services Tax (GST) has got its new chief.

Senior bureaucrat John Joseph has been appointed Director General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DG GSTI), as per an official order.

Queen Elizabeth hires first ever black assistant:

A new personal assistant selected by the Queen is to become the first black equerry in British history.

Major Nana Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah, a Ghanaian-born officer who fought in the Afghanistan war, will fill one of the most important roles in the royal household.

Raninder Singh re-elected NRAI president:

Raninder Singh was re-elected as president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for another four-year term.

In the elections conducted on the PCA stadium premises here, Singh defeated Shyam Singh Yadav, president of Uttar Pradesh Rifle Association, with an overwhelming 89-1 margin. Raninder is the son of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

Punjab

Capital: Chandigarh

Governor: V. P. Singh Badnore

Chief Minister: Captain Amarinder Singh

AWARDS

Ranveer, Prabhas in GQ’s Most Influential Young Indians list:

Actor Ranveer Singh has featured in GQ’s Most Influential Young Indians 2017: Mavericks list. ‘Baahubali’ actor Prabhas, Rajkummar Rao,Radhika Apte, Diljit Dosanjh and Badshah have featured in the Most Influential Young Indians: Artistes list. Shuttler PV Sindhu, comedian KananGill, ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ director Alankrita Shrivastava are among the other personalities in the Artistes list.

A R Rahman shortlisted for World Soundtrack Awards:

Double Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman wrote on his Twitter page that he is “delighted to have been shortlisted for the World Soundtrack Awards Public Choice Award for Viceroy’s House.”

The award allows fans across the world to cast their vote for what they consider to be the best soundtrack of the past 12 months.

SPORTS

National racing: Vishnu, Mandody clinch double wins

Vishnu Prasad and Chittesh Mandody overcame stiff challenges to clinch a double title each in the opening round of the JK Tyre FMSCI National racing championship at the Kari Motor Speedway.

Lewis Hamilton battles back as Valtteri Bottas wins Austrian GP:

Valtteri Bottas dominated the Austrian Grand Prix to take his second victory of the year ahead of Sebastian Vettel as Lewis Hamilton recovered to fourth.

Hamilton started eighth after a poor qualifying performance and a five-place grid penalty, and is 20 points behind Ferrari driver Vettel in the championship.

Fourteen-year-old amateur Atthaya Thitikul has become the youngest known winner of a professional golf tour event with victory at the Ladies European Thailand Championship.

The Thai player finished five under after a level-par 72, two shots clear of Ana Menendez who carded a 75. Due to her amateur status, Thitikul is not eligible for the 45,000 euros prize money (£40,000) – Mexican Menendez will receive the top prize.

OBITUARY

Former Indian Ambassador to the US Naresh Chandra passes away:

Former Indian Ambassador to the United States,Naresh Chandra has passed away. He was 82.

Chandra had served as the Cabinet Secretary from 1990-92 and was the Indian Ambassador to the US from 1996 to 2001. He was awarded the country’s second highest civil awards, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2007.

Nelsan Ellis, ‘True Blood’ actor, dead at 39:

Nelsan Ellis, the actor who lit up the screen on HBO’s vampire drama “True Blood”, has died at age 39.